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The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has joined a $13 billion funding round for Anthropic, the U.S.-based AI company behind the Claude assistant. Although funding amounts were not disclosed, QIA was identified as a “significant” contributor in the round, which values Anthropic at $183 billion. The company intends to use the capital to deepen R&D efforts […]

A new report from Crystal Intelligence reveals that the crypto sector has suffered losses totaling $22.7 billion through scams and cybersecurity breaches since 2011. Ethereum remains the most targeted asset, accounting for about $2 billionin losses. Although the number of incidents fell 44% year-over-year, total financial damage rose by 33%, reaching $3.6 billion—driven in large part by high-value

While official confirmations remain scarce, analysts report that several Middle Eastern countries are quietly increasing their Bitcoin reserves in multi-billion-dollar moves. These behind-the-scenes acquisitions suggest a strategic expansion in national reserve holdings, possibly as hedges against fiat exposure. This growing interest in crypto reflects a broader shift in regional economic strategy. Source: AInvest

Bahrain is proactively courting over 50 financial services companies, nearly half of which specialize in crypto and investment management. Leveraging its zero-tax environment and full foreign ownership policies, the kingdom has already attracted major names like Binance and Crypto.com. This push is part of a larger Gulf-wide trend, as regional hubs—including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and

Investor optimism surrounding a potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut continues to buoy Gulf equity markets. Markets across the region saw modest gains: Saudi Arabia’s index climbed 0.2%, buoyed by a 2.4% rise in shares of Umm al Qura Development. Dubai added 0.1%, led by Emirates NBD’s 1.8% gain, while Abu Dhabi surged 0.6% and

New fuel rates in the UAE are taking effect this month: petrol prices have risen modestly by 1 fils, while diesel costs decreased by 12 fils per litre compared to August. This pricing shift, reflecting global oil market fluctuations, is expected to offer some relief to transportation and logistics sectors amid broad phase-in of cost adjustments.  Source: The

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi revealed that Gulf economies are currently outperforming global norms. The labour market has expanded significantly, with the workforce growing from 27.9 million in 2020 to 34.9 million in 2024—a 24.8% increment. Looking ahead, the IMF projects GCC growth at 4.1% in 2026, driven largely by robust non-oil sector momentum.  Source: Asharq Al-Awsat

The Central Bank of the UAE boosted its gold reserves by nearly 26% in the first five months of 2025, increasing the total to $7.9 billion—up from $6.255 billion at the end of 2024. That stockpiling reflects investor demand for stability amid geopolitical and economic turbulence. Meanwhile, gold trading in the UAE has picked up: the price of 22-karat

Fintech transformation in the Gulf is gaining momentum, with blockchain and crypto increasingly embedded within regional financial systems. This shift is driven by economic reform efforts and a push for financial autonomy, with blockchain adoption rising at an annual rate near 70%.  Source: Carnegie Endowment